College of Arts & Sciences

Course Number 7500:201 (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Mark Durrand

Year/Term: 2016 / Fall
Office: The Internet
Email: med9@uakron.edu
Office Hours: None although I will be happy to address questions by email.

Course Information
Description
This course provides non-music majors with the skills to evaluate a wide range
of music.

Prerequisites
3400:210 or 3400:221

Course Overview
All course materials (lectures, readings, assignment instructions, discussions,
and quizzes) will be accessible via Springboard. It is very important for you to
log into Springboard regularly to find the latest updates for class.

Course Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.

Utilize basic musical vocabulary.

Analyze basic elements of music.
Identify musical elements in historical contexts.
Explain the evolution of musical elements over time, both in the western
classical tradition and various popular genres.

Required Text
Forney, Kristine, Andrew DellAntonio, and Joseph Machlis. The Enjoyment of
Music, 12th Shorter Ed. Study Space Basic. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015.

Additional Resources
Each instructional module links you either to the required screens within the
text or to an entry from Grove Music Online. Some of the listening selections
will be accessed via Youtube.

Experiential Component
The two concert reviews you complete this semester are designed to satisfy the
experiential component of this class. In short, youll be immersing yourself in a
live musical experience and answering some questions about it. Note that
concert is used loosely here; you can satisfy this assignment by attending
any live musical event, be it a classical or rock concert at a major venue, a jazz
or blues jam in a bar, a brass band in a community park, or something else.
The criteria are 1) the experience must be live (even if portions of it are
recorded, as in the case of a performance by a DJ) and 2) you must be there in
person, not virtually.

Communication Expectations: Yours and Mine

My Expectations
You are expected to read each content module and follow all directions,
including reviewing all links (exceptions are those labeled strongly
recommended and optional).
You are expected to monitor the course calendar and meet deadlines for all
activities including discussions, quizzes, and dropbox assignments.
What is Participation?
Most importantly, you are expected to be an active member in the class. Each
time you login, I expect to see evidence of your participation. This would mean
you are clicking and reviewing content, posting to a discussion, submitting an
assignment, or taking a quiz or exam. Please note that your activity is logged
in Springboard. I will review your activity when assigning grades. I want you to
succeed and know that success is not possible if you do not participate in the
learning process.
Your assignments
In order to grade your assignment, I will need to be able to find it, open it, and
recognize that it's yours. To make all that happen, you must submit a file in the
appropriate dropbox for every assignment. You must include your name and
submit a file in a standard format supported at UA. This could be .doc, .docx,
.rtf, or .pdf. You can use any program you prefer to create your assignment
(including Open Office, Google Docs [free to UA students as part of your Google
apps], or Microsoft Office) as long as you can submit one of those file types.

Your Expectations
Please keep in mind that while the class is available 24 hours per day, I must
occasionally sleep, eat, and teach other classes. You can typically expect me to
respond to email within 24 hours. Please allow extra time for weekends,
holidays, and questions that are of a non-urgent nature. You can expect me to
grade assignments and provide feedback within a few days of the end date for
the assignment. For large assignments such as papers or projects, please allow

up to two weeks for grading. I will not begin grading until the due date has
ended.

My Participation
You can expect me to communicate with you with a mass email near the
beginning of each week with reminders and updates. I will monitor discussions.
I will be available during virtual office hour sessions. I will occasionally send
direct email to let you know how you are doing (good or bad). I will respond to
any email you direct to me. You are welcome and encouraged to setup an
appointment to meet me in my virtual office any time you are experiencing
difficulty in this class.
If there is an exception to my availability (such as instructor illness or travel), I
will let you know in a direct email. If I change any due dates due to the
progress of the class, you can expect me to note this in the course via direct
email.
If You Have an Emergency
The best way to contact me is to send email.

Student-to-Student Interaction
This course is designed to be participatory. To that end, there are four required
Discussion Forums and an added, optional one. In each case, part of the
assignment involves discussing music with other students. Youre encouraged
to join the various discussion-threads as often as youre inclined; you need not
stick to the forums minimal requirements in that regard. If you have any
questions about proper netiquette, please consult the Netiquette document
under Course Orientation in Springboard.

Technical Support
The University of Akron uses a centralized Zip Support Center process to
receive and effectively route trouble reports and assess and rectify campuswide issues when they arise.
If you need technical support, contact the Zip Support Center. Phone: (330)
972-6888. Email: springboardhelp@uakron.edu. Please note that there is a
Need Help widget on our course home page. You can use that to find your
course number and your login ID. This information will help Zip Support
personnel to assist you more rapidly.
Frequently asked questions can be found here.
If you are in need of a tutorial or a quick reference on how to do something in
Springboard, visit the Springboard Self Help Guides.
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Student Support Services

Student Support Services makes sure you are successful in your studies at the
University of Akron. From the Writing Lab, Adult Focus Program, and Counseling
Services to eTutoring, our University is focused on giving you the tools you
need to perform at your best.
For a list of Student Resources that pertains specifically to online learning, visit
the Online Learning Student Resources web site.
eTutoring
eTutoring is provided through the Ohio eTutoring Collaborative. Our students at
The University of Akron have access to online tutoring in:

Accounting

Anatomy and Physiology

Biology

Calculus

Chemistry

Math (from the developmental level through Calculus II)

Physics

Statistics

Writing

You may contact eTutoring's Online Writing Lab to improve your writing or
utilize the eChat to meet with a tutor in one-on-one tutoring sessions via a fully
interactive, virtual online environment.

Research and Writing Support

Research support is available from the University of Akron Library. For a
description of library services, visit Library Services for Students.
University of Akron also offers a writing studio for undergraduate students. For
information, see the Writing Lab.

For information on citation styles that may be required by your instructor see:
APA Style
MLA Style
Chicago Manual of Style
For additional links to more institutional resources, click on the Help tab in
Springboard.

Accessibility Statement
Any student who has a disability that substantially limits learning in a higher
education setting may contact the Office of Accessibility for information
regarding eligibility for reasonable accommodations. The office telephone
number is (330) 972-7928 (Voice) or (330) 972-5764 (TDD).

Evaluation and Assessment

Breakdown of Final Grade
Graded items
Paper 1
Paper 2
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
Concert Attendance 1
Concert Attendance 2
Discussion 1
Discussion 2
Discussion 3
Discussion 4

Points
200
200
80
80
80
80
80
80
30
30
30
30

Notes:
1) There is an extra-credit discussion option, worth an additional 30 points.

Grading Scale
A
AB+

93-100%
90-92%
86-89%
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B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF

83-85%
80-82%
76-79%
73-75%
70-72%
66-69%
63-65%
60-62%
BELOW 60%

Course Outline
Each weeks assignments start on Monday at noon (except for
weeks 1 and 5).
Week
/
Date

Topic

Assignments / Readings / Tasks

1
Aug.2
9

I. Getting Started with

the Elements of Music.

2
Sep.
05

I. Getting Started with

the Elements of Music,
Cont.

3
Sep.
12

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Baroque Era.

Reading and Listening: Machlis:

Chapters 1-2.
Discussion 1 assigned. Opens Aug.
29, Due Sunday, Sep. 4.

Reading and Listening: Machlis:

Chapters 3, 5-6.

Reading and Listening: Machlis:

Prelude 3, Chapters 21 and 25.
Concert Attendance Report
assigned (Due Oct 2).
Reading and Listening: Machlis:
Chapters 23, 26-27.
Quiz 1 assigned, (opens at noon on
Sep. 19).
Paper 1 assigned, (Due Sunday,
Oct. 09).
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Chapters 29-31.

4
Sep.
19

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Baroque Era,
Cont.

5
Sep.

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Classical Era.

26

Quiz 1 DUE, Sep. 26.

Concert Report 1 DUE. Sunday,
Oct. 02, 11:59 pm
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Chapters 32-34.
Discussion 2 assigned. Opens Oct.
3, Due Sunday, Oct. 9 by 11:59.
Paper 1 DUE Sunday, Oct. 09 by
11:59 pm.

6
Oct.
03

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Classical Era,
Cont.

7
Oct.
10

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Romantic Era.

8
Oct.
17

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Romantic Era,
Cont.

Reading and Listening: Machlis,

Chapters 36, 38, 41.

Reading and Listening: Machlis,

Chapters 43-45.
Quiz 2 assigned, Due Oct. 23 by
11:59 pm.
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Prelude 6; Chapters 53, 59.
Discussion 3 assigned. Opens Oct.
24, Due Sunday, Oct. 30.
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Prelude 7; Chapters 64, 67.
Concert Attendance 2 assigned,
due Sunday, Nov. 20 by 11:59 pm
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Chapter 56.
Quiz 3 assigned, Due Nov. 11 by
11:59.
Reading and Listening: Machlis,
Chapter 58.
Concert Report 2 DUE, Nov. 20 by
11:59 pm.
Discussion 4 assigned. Opens Nov.
14, Due by Nov. 20.
Paper 2 assigned, (Due Sunday,
Dec. 4 by 11:59 pm).
Reading: Grove Music Online, Folk
Music Revival; Dylan, Bob, Section
1; Mitchell, Joni.
Listening: Spotify playlist for Week
13.
Complete the Week 13 Selfassessment.
Reading: Grove Music Online, Funk;

9
Oct.
24

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Since 1900.

10
Oct.
31

II. The Western Art-Music

Tradition: Since 1900,
Cont.

11
Nov.
07

III. Vernacular Traditions:

The Blues.

12
Nov.
14

III. Vernacular Traditions:

Jazz.

13
Nov.
21

14

IV. Selected Popular

Histories: the folk music
revival of the 1960s, with
Particular Attention Paid
to Bob Dylan and Joni
Mitchell
IV. Selected Popular

Nov.
28

Histories: Funk of the

1960s and 1970s.

Brown, James; Sly and the Family

Stone; Tower of Power; Clinton,
George; Wonder, Stevie.
Listening: Spotify playlist for Week.
14.
Discussion 4 locks, Nov. 28 at
11:59 pm (for one half credit).
Paper 2 DUE Sunday, Dec. 4 by
11:59 pm.
Reading: Grove Music Online,
Beatles, The.
Listening: Spotify playlist for Week
15; various Youtube videos (see
Springboard).
Quiz 4 assigned, Due Dec. 11 by
11:59 pm.
Extra Credit Discussion assigned.
Opens Dec. 5, Due by Dec. 14 at
11:59.

15
Dec.
05

IV. Selected Popular

Histories: The Beatles.

16
Dec.
12

Final Exam Week

Extra Credit Discussion DUE, Dec.

14 by 11:59 pm.

Technology: You must have access to a computer capable of handling

Springboard (including uploading papers, streaming listening excerpts, and
taking quizzes). Beyond that, there are no special technological requirements
for this course. Papers may be submitted in any of the following formats:
Microsoft Word, Pages, PDF, Plain Text, or OpenDocument Format.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may drop a course through the 14th calendar day of a semester or
proportionately equivalent dates during summer sessions, intersession and
other course terms. A "drop" will not appear on your transcript. The class
simply "disappears."

After the 14th calendar day period, students may withdraw from a course
through MyAkron until the 49th calendar day of a semester or proportionally
equivalent dates during summer session, intersession, and other course
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terms. If you withdraw, a "WD" will appear on your transcript. You should
know that a withdrawal may affect your financial aid, eligibility for oncampus employment and eligibility for insurance. Speak with your advisor
for details.

A student who leaves a course without completing the coursework and

without going through the withdrawal procedure will be given an "F" in the
course.

You must consult your academic advisor:

o before withdrawing from more than two courses before you have
earned 32 credits; and
o before withdrawing from more than two courses after you have earned
32 credits but before you have earned 64 credits. (This does not
count withdrawals that occurred before you earned 32 credits.)

You may not withdraw from more than four courses before you have earned
64 credits.

You may not withdraw from the same course more than twice.

Exceptions may be made for extraordinary non-academic reasons (e.g.,

medical treatment or convalescence, military service).

Your advisor can answer specific questions.

Questions regarding your registration can be addressed by the Office of the

Registrar, 330-972-5400. The official University Withdrawal Policy is located
here.

Incomplete
Incomplete indicates that you have completed passing work but that some part
of the work is, for good and acceptable reason, not complete at the end of the
term. Failure to make up the omitted work satisfactorily by the end of the
following term, not including summer sessions, converts the "I" to an "F." When
the work is satisfactorily completed within the allotted time the "I" is converted
to the grade that the student has earned.

Student Conduct and Community Standards

Students at The University of Akron are an essential part of the academic
community, and enjoy substantial freedom within the framework of the
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educational objectives of the institution. The freedom necessary for learning in

a community so rich in diversity, and achieving success toward educational
objectives, requires high standards of academic integrity. Academic dishonesty
has no place in an institution of advanced learning. The University community
is governed by the policies and regulations contained with the Code of Student
Conduct available in the Department of Student Conduct and Community
Standards, Simmons Hall 302, (330) 972-6380. The University of Akron Code of
Student Conduct can be downloaded here.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

It is each student's responsibility to know what constitutes academic
dishonesty and to seek clarification directly from the instructor if necessary.
The University of Akron, University Libraries web site is an excellent source to
help you, the student, understand plagiarism and how to avoid it. Click here to
learn more about how to avoid plagiarism.
Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

Submission of an assignment as the student's original work that is

entirely or partly the work of another person.
Failure to appropriately cite references from published or unpublished
works or print/non-print materials.
Unauthorized copying of an assignment in computer programming, or the
unauthorized examination or view of the computer, specifically during
examinations.
Possession and/or unauthorized use of tests, notes, books, calculators or
formulas stored in calculators not authorized by the instructor during an
examination.
Providing and/or receiving information from another student other than
the instructor, by any verbal or written means.
Observing or assisting another student's work, when not part of a group
activity.
Violation of the procedures prescribed by the professor to protect the
integrity of the examination.
Cooperation with a person involved in academic misconduct.
Submitting the same assignment in two different classes.

If a faculty member suspects that a student has violated the

Academic Misconduct provision in the Code of Student Conduct,
the faculty member will follow the procedure outlined in Section
J of the Code of Student Conduct. More information is available
at the website of the Department of Student Conduct and
Community Standards.
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